Run Geelong Contributes $1Million To Help Care For Geelong’s Smallest Patients

Special Care Nursery: tiny patient

Special Care Nursery: tiny patient

Special Care Nursery: Cotton On Group CEO Peter Johnson helps open the nursery

Special Care Nursery nurses at work: nurses at work

From this week, Geelong’s tiniest patients will be cared for in a new state of the art Special Care Nursery at University Hospital Geelong, thanks to the support of the local community and the Cotton On Group’s Run Geelong event.

All proceeds from the 2013 and 2014 Run Geelong events were donated directly to the nursery redevelopment, resulting in over $1 million being contributed towards the $3.8 million project.

Jim Cail, National Projects Manager for Run Australia, says the completion of the facility is the result of the people of Geelong embracing the cause and choosing to participate in the annual event.

“The last two years saw over 24,000 people take part – an amazing effort that demonstrates the community’s commitment to making a difference in their own backyard,” he says.

“We are thrilled to see the culmination of that incredible support in the opening of the new Special Care Nursery – a facility we know will have huge impact on staff, the babies they care for and their families.”

With an increased capacity, brand new equipment and a more family friendly design, the redeveloped space will allow the little patients to receive the treatment they need much closer to home.

At a time when sick babies and their families are most vulnerable, having the world class facility located in the heart of Geelong will be a vital service to the region.

“In 2014, 540 patients were cared for in the nursery and 25 per cent of babies born at University Hospital Geelong spent time there,” Barwon Health Foundation Executive Director Jill Moodie says.

“The facility also receives babies from other hospitals that have exceeded their own Special Care Nursery capacity, meaning our reach extends beyond the Geelong community.”

The redevelopment is the second project the Group has supported at the hospital, following the completion of the Children’s Ward in 2012.

With the nursery now complete, focus will turn to the hospital’s next cause – the redevelopment of the hospital’s Maternity Services ward. Proceeds from the 2015 Run Geelong event in November will be donated to the project.

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